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Students ask Vista council for letter backing expanded bus service to Mission Vista; council unanimously agrees
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Summary
Students from Mission Vista presented survey and mapping data showing transportation barriers that lower attendance, extracurricular participation and GPAs; the council agreed to send letters of support to Vista Unified, NCTD, SANDAG and regional representatives and to meet with students and transit officials.
A group of Mission Vista High School students presented research to the Vista City Council and won unanimous support for a letter asking school and transit districts to expand public transportation to the campus.
The students — Eden Cohen, Matt Stikstra and Joaquin — told the council they surveyed 97 students and overlaid residency and income maps to identify gaps in service. Eden Cohen said 43% of USD students are from economically challenged families and that 17% of USD students use the bus, well below the national average. The students argued that limited transit access contributes to missed extracurriculars, higher stress and lower GPAs among lower-income pupils.
The council’s action was narrow and procedural: Council Member Contreras moved to close the public hearing on the proposal and to provide a letter of support; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously, with Deputy Mayor O’Donnell absent. Contreras and other council members said they would forward letters to Vista Unified School District, North County Transit District (NCTD), SANDAG and to county, state and federal representatives as appropriate.
Council Member Melendez praised the students’ data-driven approach and offered to help arrange meetings with transit and school officials. Student presenters said they had already met with NCTD and were awaiting cost estimates; they requested either a formal letter of recommendation or a staff-facilitated meeting between NCTD and Vista Unified.
The council did not adopt a specific funding commitment at the meeting; instead it agreed to send support letters and to assist the students in pursuing TAP or other transportation funding sources. The motion passed unanimously with Deputy Mayor O’Donnell absent.
The students said their proposal would focus on expanding service on routes 303 and 315 to better serve east and southeast neighborhoods that help make Mission Vista accessible to lower-income students. Council members asked staff to facilitate follow-up meetings and to provide any technical support the students need.
